Discover Taranna: Railway History and Chocolate

Taranna combines a distinctive history of transport with themes of habitats and artisan production. If you’re looking for a hotel for your stay, specific local details can help you assess the destination based on your interests. The details below show how the historic railway, the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo’s approach, and chocolate production differ.

The railway and Taranna’s former role

Taranna was once the terminus of Australia’s first railway. The railway line between Port Arthur and the jetty at Taranna on Little Norfolk Bay was 7 km long. Four convicts pushed carts along the line. The railway was designed to carry passengers and supplies.

These facts connect a specific route with the railway’s intended purpose. The jetty marks the terminus at Taranna; the 7 km length and the connection to Port Arthur place the route in context. The work of the four convicts shows how carts were moved along the line; the railway’s design for passengers and supplies identifies its intended transport purpose. Its history therefore has both a geographical and a practical dimension. For history-minded travellers, Taranna is not simply identified as the terminus, but contextualised through the route and its function.

Habitats at the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo

Another way to explore the area is through the Tasmanian Devil Unzoo in Taranna. For native animals, the Unzoo uses natural habitats that mimic or restore natural landscapes. The focus is therefore on the animals’ surroundings: natural landscapes serve as models or are brought back. Mimicking uses a landscape as a model; restoring emphasises the recovery of natural landscapes. Both approaches are part of this concept. If you’re interested in the connection between animals and landscapes, this focus offers a distinct way to explore Taranna. When planning your trip, the design of the habitats may therefore be important, not just your interest in native animals.

Handcrafted chocolate made locally

The Tasmanian Chocolate Foundry adds artisan production to Taranna’s attractions. It produces a wide range of handcrafted chocolate products on site. Visitors can view the production area. If seeing the production area is important to your travel plans, check the current access conditions before visiting. The range of products and the opportunity to view the production area offer two distinct points of interest: the finished product and the production process.

Choosing what to explore in Taranna based on your interests

Start by choosing the focus that best suits your trip. The historical details give Taranna a connection to its past, while a visit to the Foundry may be a specific activity you have in mind. This lets you include the town’s historical context and a practical visit detail in your plans in different ways.

Discover more destinations: Meadowbank, Dunalley, Lulworth, Whitemark, Loccota, Kayena, Moina, Orford.

For an overview of the wider region: Tasmania.